Friday, January 7, 2011

Yet another interesting New Balance release for Spring 2011. I really like this eye-catching colorway! The M1500 RBB Made in England comes beginning of January in a solid OG colorway, with nubuck and mesh uppers. These are now up for pre-order from End.

I am getting this while I'm in France...Period!Paris creative agency La MJC and colette got together with New Balance to create the “Vivre Sans Temps Mort” 1500 sneaker. The slogan used for the sneaker is one of the core slogans of the agency since the very beginning and describes a state of mind that is restless. The upper of the sneaker comes in a nice red/white/grey combination, using lots of premium leathers and mesh. Produced in the Flimby factory in the UK, the sneakers will be released at colette and in the Cool Cats online store December 18th.

After emerging onto the international sneaker scene with a collaboration with Reebok, Highs & Lows (HAL) now team up with New Balance on a two-pack of sneakers dubbed Night & Day. The Day 577 is inspired by the beach, lazy barbecues and the city’s blue skies and golden sun. For the Night 577, a stealthier package was the basis with black full-grain leather and raw nubuck with 3M detailing. I'm a total sucker for a cool insert too and the sun and moon inserts on this pack take the cake! A release is set for April 2010. Just in time for my birthday...

It has been 10 years since this collaboration started up. For a while there it was very much the icon of New Balance within sneaker culture, since it's spawned numerous other colabs in Japan and around the world. Sad to say the New Balance USA versions have never lived up to their international counterparts or my own expectations. But I still love this Hectic X Mita X New Balance MT580 series. This special 10th anniversary version comes in a bold blue and yellow, and is available online atHanon.

Here is the new Nonnative x New Balance CM1500 “Coyote." The running shoe will drop in Japan on January 3rd at Tokishirazu and other select retailers. I have to admit I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. It kinda reminds me of a simpler version of a previous New balance design and colorway. But the interwebs seem to be goin crazy for this sneaker so here it is.

New for Spring 2011 is a collaboration between San Fransisco skate institution Huf and New Balance. A minimal design takes form through both a 790 Snowboarding Boot and 205 light weight running shoe. The colorway on these is just scintillating. Both will be available January 8th at Huf and 686.

I have to admit that the MT580 has lost some of it's luster over the last few years for me. That has little to do with a quality release like this one and everything to do with the inept and downright cheap approach that New Balance USA has taken to marketing it's wide releases. Bad design, lame colorways and all around cheaply manufactured materials have marred what had once been New Balance's premier Sneakerhead silhouette. And yes, I am talking about the initial American rollout of the MT580 in the states. They fucked it up big time! So much so that I know of more than one New Balance shop that simply chose to stop carrying anything other than technical runners and cross trainers from their own brand! Here's hoping that going forward in 2011 New Balance can regain some of that quality and bring the MT580 back stronger than ever.

An internationally popular model in the New Balance stable of sneakers, the MT580 Gore-Tex shoe has earned its following over the years, and this new Gore-Tex model is sure to continue that trend. A mix of solid and perforated leather on the uppers and a natural gum-rubber sole (I love gum soled shoes!!) with contrasting linings, this shoe has a lot going on.Available February 2011 at Mita.

The New Balance 574 Sonic, a “sonic welded” version of their iconic running shoe, uses heat and pressure to seamlessly fuse the sneakers’ panels together. For Spring/Summer 2011, the shoe comes in new off-white and maroon colorways. Pre-order from End for a February release.

New Balance mix things up with these sleek M564s. Featuring a one-piece perf toe that pops off in plush suede, the heel is held firm thanks to a unique wrap-around ribbon that forms the upper eyelets. as seen in Sneakerfreaker issue 20